| Show Rural Migration Presents Problems By LAURENCE J J. J BURTON US U.S. CONGRESSMAN Today there are arc million Americans seven Americans seven out of every ten persons who persons who live in cities clUes They are crowded onto just one per cent of the land area of the United States On the other hand only 57 million three I p people three people out of ten ten live live on the other 99 of American soil soll TIns THIS WAS ONE of a number of Interesting and interesting and somewhat startling statistics startling statistics that were cited by Secretary of oC Agriculture ture Orville Orvllle L L. L Freeman In his testimony at hearings before beCore the House Select Committee on Small Business The hearings which are concerned with problems problems problems lems associated with the preservation preservation preservation pres pres- and growth of small business in small cities clUes and towns were held in Washington although plans call for further hearings on this same subject in other sections of oC the country I later In the year i I suggested ad to Chairman John JohnC I C C. C Kluczynski D who I heads the subcommittee directly direct direct- ly Iy concerned that It would be a good idea to hold hearings In inI I Utah Mr Kluczynski agreed I and told me he would see if It could be arranged ALL OF US on the Committee were aware I am sure that the migration from rural areas to the cities clUes has been a great one and that It has substantially changed the pattern of or our American way of life Mr Freeman's Freemans Freemans Freeman's Freemans Freeman's Free Free- mans man's testimony however ever put the extent of the exodus from the farm to the factory Into sharper focus And his outline of the problems problems I lems that this migration has brought about both for rural America and for the cities clUes themselves I found to be both interesting and enlightening TWO GENERA GENERATIONS TI ONS ago more A Americans m me e r ri i c cans a n s lived and worked In rural areas than In cities It was not until 1920 that urban population caught up with rural population In this country The Secretary made the point that for many years the movement movement movement move move- ment from the land to the cities was a healthy thing for the na na- na tion The growth of the great urban centers was a key factor In the phenomenal economic de development development development de- de of this nation BUT IN MR Free Freemans Freeman's mans man's words the pendulum over- over swung Not only do seven out of every ten Americans now live In urban areas but if the present trend continues and as our population increases It wont won't be long be before before before be- be fore the man who lives In the country will be a rarity at least comparatively speaking EVERY YEAR three million more Americans jam Into our already overcrowded cities clUes If It present patterns continue unchecked unchecked un unchecked un- un checked by the year 2000 most Americans will be crammed Into five cities One such city will stretch from present-day present Boston south to I Washington DC D.C. and will be home to 56 million people I This Is as many people as there I were In the entire United States In 1885 which wasn't so very long ago The overriding reason that people go to the cities clUes of course Is because they can find jobs there But those who mi migrate migrate migrate mi- mi grate to the large urban areas pay a heavy price for the economic economic economic eco eco- opportunities they seek They say good by to old friends sever long life affiliations and leave behind family homes and familiar sur sur- BUT ONCE THEY get to the cities they find they have further further further fur fur- ther sacrifices to make No longer can they roam downtown sidewalks and parks at night without fear They have to rise earlier In the morning drive farther to work and return home later at al night giving them less time to io spend with their families They have to cope with all the problems that come from having too many people in too little space I Increased nc r e as ed traffic smog Inner city decay the loss of or Individuality ty r rising I sin g tax rates more demands and less incentive for response AND WHILE much has been said about the plight of the cl city ty dweller not enough I dont don't think has been said about the problems that OUr 1 and towns face small dy T The loss 01 f d people means means a loss q ers and less busine bUSiness and lor nr UP down b Main lain s ra tax ba base o to Street schools and other suPPOrt S rOa pal Public 1 ices declines or at Si lC st errs to keep pace ith With best hJ Wy Ince costs of render ea Ices rendering such ch s sery seq rr In many of OUr I nines there are people to support now the hS t too ht bum establishments tal legal and other medical churches and essential needed for 11 living In our own state a ade ber of counties ann lost pop s have haw stet t an and d natel Y the very c described prevail there se to some degree t tIT 1 IT IS Secretary Free pep thesis that we ue c can an use the eDit coax t to solve the ther pr lead the cities clUes a and nd In so doing ky solve the pr problems of Cheep too He s Committee a f signed to strike a ti t tween een the rural a and the parts of the nation A 31 principal co cf policy would b be beto e ne' ne new to generate job i rural areas H He e listed ta to tal plans to en ura ti Iness loess and d industry to small cities clUes and of more government cor to firms already located would locate In rural 2 areas area increased planning rl a multi settled areas as major ft rea of the proposed national p i CERTAINLY the I proposals deserve c. c I I |
